Transformers 4 And 5 Could Shoot Back-To-Back, But Without Shia LaBeouf

Turns out we only had part of the story when we wrote earlier today that Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg and Hasbro were all in talks to make another Transformers movie happen. According to Variety, they're actually hoping to make two more films about the intergalactic fighting robots, with plans to shoot them back-to-back in the style of the second two Pirates of the Caribbean films. The reason, of course, is money: you've got to get all the contracts signed and effects houses in motion with release dates set many years in advance.

One person who won't be signing another contract, though, is Shia LaBeouf, who is apparently sticking to his guns and not coming back for a fourth or fifth film. The studio is apparently thinking of replacing him with Jason Statham, which is hilarious, but there's no offer yet so don't get your hopes up. And even though LaBeouf is out, Michael Bay hasn't quite let go of the dream-- sources say that Bay might stick around as an executive producer (which we knew) as well as a director, fitting the movie in after what they describe as his "competitive body-building passion project Pain and Gain." I really need a minute to recover from the insanity of that last statement.

Whatever he decides to do, Variety seems to think the movie could go into production as soon as a year from now, so we won't be getting much of a break from the fighting robots at all. While we find out more details, though, answer our poll below and let us know what you think of the future of Transformers.